Angels Manager Douglas Zaner being interviewed

KOD10 Post-World Series Press Conference

Before leaving KOD10 forever behind and turning my attention to the future, I'd like to share the following with the press and all those tuning in:

 

 

* First of all, I would like to thank all of my fellow KOD10 AL managers, especially those who had to tolerate my technological limitations while I was in transition to getting my computer and high-speed internet connection set up in Israel, as well as logistical issues associated with netplaying an opponent located 7-9 time zones ahead.  I appreciate your understanding and flexibility.

* Secondly, I like to thank and tip my cap to league Commissioner Marc Weiss, my KOD10 World Series opposing manager. He has already clearly proven his managerial prowess by winning 5 of 11 KOD/KOT tournament championships.  And his skillfully guidance of the '55 Dodgers was no exception.  He's an extremely worthy opponent who always seems to know how and when to make a move, whether at the plate, on the mound or in the field.  If a small handful of lucky outcomes from the KOD10 World Series had gone the other way, he would just as easily be standing here standing in my shoes instead of me.

* Thirdly, just for the record, the 2002 Halos finished the KOD10 regular season with a 21-17 record, 4 games over .500, not 2 games over .500 as was previously reported.  <lol>
It was a lot of fun to virtually re-experience in cyberspace the excitement of the real MLB 2002 season and post-season, which for Angels fans stands above all other seasons in the team's 50 year history.   I appreciated the opportunity and thank all involved.

Douglas Zaner
manager, KOD10 2002 Anaheim Angels

2002 Anaheim Angels – KOD 10 Champions

I would personally like to congratulate Douglas Zaner on his masterful job in piloting the 2002 Halos to the KOD10 Championship.  On the surface, the Halos looked to be the weakest link in the AL playoff picture when the post season started.  Many discounted this team that finished just 2 games over .500, but most did not realize that Douglas missed at least 1/3 of the games due to his move from Atlanta to Israel.  Douglas truly knew how to pilot this team.  He knew when to platoon, when to pinch hit and which situational relievers needed to be summoned from the pen.

I personally must thank him for a fantastic “nail biting” World Series.  In the end my “Boys of Summer” did what they did so many times in the magical run from the late 40’s through the late 50’s, they lost in the World Series.  I found it simply amazing how Dave’s game found a way to simulate the realism of Don Newcombe choking in his Fall Classic starts.  Each game came down to the wire with the best man and the best varsity winning.

The Series had co-MVP’s in David Eckstein and Troy Percival, but not to sound cliché the Angels truly put forth a great team effort as Douglas captured his first KOD title in his 3rd attempt.

KOD10 World Series Game 6: Halos clinch title in see-saw battle vs Dem Bums

10/24 – Ebbets Field

Game 6 – Angels 6, Dodgers 5

Despite facing elimination, the Dodgers liked their chances at home. Billy Loes made his Series debut as the Brooklyn starter, while the Angels answered with their best starter this season Kevin Appier. Bengie Molina doubled home 2 in the top of the 2nd inning to give Anaheim an early 2-0 lead. Loes settled down after that and kept the Angels off the board for another 4 innings. Meanwhile, Appier allowed Brooklyn runners to reach in each inning, but was always able to make the pitch he needed when he needed it. And after 5 and a half innings, it was still 2-0 Anaheim.

Yet despite his being amongst the AL ERA leaders this season, when Carl Furillo singled with 2 outs and nobody on base in the bottom of the 6th inning, Angels manager Douglas Zaner sensed that Appier was near the bottom of his tank. And with the game and the Series on the line, he called on Al Levine from the bullpen. Levine’s performance the entire season had been nothing short of stellar. In 16.1 innings of work over 11 games he had yielded only 8 hits and 6 walks (0.86 WHIP). More importantly and impressive, his ERA was 0.00; he had not allowed a run all season. Which made what followed all the more remarkable:

Gil Hodges greeted Levine with a single, and the Amoros walked to load the bases. Frank Kellert batted for Hoak and walked to force in a run, making the score 2-1 Anaheim. With the bases still loaded and the pitcher’s spot due, up to the dish stepped Moose Moryn. With only 1 AB the entire season and 1 AB in the post-season, even the hometown faithful had to turn to their scorecards to figure out who was at the plate. But by 2 pitches later they all sure knew who he was when he hit a 1-0 pitch over the fence in right centerfield. A Grand Slam. And suddenly the Dodgers, who just 5 batters earlier had 2 outs and nothing happening in their half of the 6th inning, now led 5-2.

If the Halos were shell-shocked, they didn’t let it show.. In the top of the 8th inning with Karl Spooner on in relief for the Dodgers, David Eckstein singled in a run and Tim Salmon hit a sacrifice fly to pull the visitors within 1. The score was now 5-4 and the Bums were just 3 outs away from sending the Series to a seventh game. Clem Labine came on to close it out.

But Scott Spiezio opened the inning with a walk and Glaus did the same. Labine did manage to find the plate with the next hitter Adam Kennedy. But he slapped the ball into right field for a single loading the bases. The Angels now had 3 tries to tie the game, and turned to their excellent corps of pinch hitters to do it. Jose Molina grounded to Labine, who threw home to force Spiezio. Amazingly, the next pinch hitter Shawn Wooten did the exact same thing, forcing Glaus at the plate. In each instance the Dodgers failed to complete the double play at 1st base. Nevertheless, Brooklyn now stood 1 out away from a bases-loaded, no outs Great Escape. The only thing standing between them and Game 7 was the next batter, 5’7’’ David Eckstein, who promptly lined a single to left field scoring 2 runs, giving Anaheim a 6-5 lead. Troy Percival gave up a 1-out single in the bottom of the 9th. But that as all the Dodgers could muster. And when Jim Gilliam grounded out a few minutes later, the 2002 Anaheim Angels were KOD10 champions.

The Series MVP award was shared between David Eckstein, who led the Halos with 7 RBIs, all of which were achieved when they counted the most, in Angels’ wins, and Troy Percival who was successful 3 times in protecting a 1-run or 2-run lead in the 9th inning against the potent Dodgers lineup. Without these two, the Series could have very easily ended in a 4 game Brooklyn sweep. But instead, Gene Autry could finally ride off slowly into the sunset knowing that his Angles had finally found Heaven.

--submitted by Douglas Zaner--

KOD10 World Series Games 3-5

10/20 – 10/22 – Edison International Field

Game 3 – Angels 5, Dodgers 4

The Series continued in Anaheim with Ramon Ortiz starting for the home team, vs lefty Johnny Podres. Darin Erstad’s HR with the bases empty gave the Angels the early 1-0 lead in the bottom of the first frame. But the Dodgers came back to take the lead in the top of the 3rd scoring twice on RBI singles by Jim Gilliam and Duke Snider. The score remained 2-1 and Johnny Podres remained in control until the bottom of the 6th when with 2-outs, suddenly he lost it. Garret Anderson tied the score with a solo shot. Scot Spiezio singled and Troy Glaus walked to end the day for Podres. Don Bessent came on in relief and walked Shaun Wooten to load the bases. Brad Fullmer came on and delivered a clutch pinch hit, singling home both Spiezio and Glaus to make the score 4-2 Anaheim. The Dodgers cut the lead to 1 run in the top of the 7th inning on a Sandy Amoros triple and a Pee Wee Reese single. But the Angels answered with an unearned run in the bottom of the frame on a Spiezio single, making it 5-3.

The Dodgers refused to quit and loaded the bases with no outs in the top of the 8th inning off Ben Weber. In what proved to be the crucial AB of the game, Rube Walker then grounded into a 5-4 double play, scoring Campanella from 3rd base. But pinch hitter George Shuba popped up, ending the threat. Troy Percival pitched a perfect 9th inning for the save, giving Ortiz the win and the Angels a 2-1 games lead.

Game 4 – Angels 8, Dodgers 7 (14 innings)

When a 7-game series is at 2 games to 1, the 4th game is absolutely pivotal, as it means the difference between one team being only 1 game away from a series win with 3 chances to get it, or a tied series that effectively becomes a best out of 3. For the crucial Game 4, Anaheim went with rookie John Lackey who was 5-1 on the season with a sparkling 1.85 ERA, while Brooklyn answered with their ace Don Newcombe, going on 3 days rest.

From the beginning of the game it was clear that Lackey didn’t have it, while Newcombe cruised despite the short rest. Roy Campanella his is 3rd HR of the series in the first inning, and Dodgers seemed to be running all over the base paths. After 5 innings the Bums had banged out 10 hits and benefited from 2 walks, a balk and a wild pitch. Pee Wee Reese had 3 hits and 2 RBIs, and Jackie Robinson had also been on base all 3 times with a single and 2 walks. Meanwhile, Newcombe scattered 5 hits, with Benji Molina’s RBI double being the only meaningful hit. The score stood 6-1 Brooklyn after 5 and a half innings. The day and the gamed seemed to be all Brooklyn.

But in the bottom of the 6th inning, Newcombe lost his  concentration, perhaps thinking a bit too much about the California girls in the stands. And the Halos seized the opportunity to crawl back in the game. 6 of the first 7 Angels’ batters reached base, including doubles by LHBs Rafael Palmeiro, Brad Fulmer and Adam Kennedy. The rally was capped with a David Eckstein suicide squeeze. By the time dust had settled the score was knotted at 6 runs each.

Still, the home town Anaheim crowed didn’t get to cheer very long, as Sandy Amoros led off the very next inning with a HR off Aaron Sele, in relief of John Lackey. And just like that the Dodgers were back on top 7-6. Newcombe seemed to regroup and held onto the 1-run lead entering the bottom of the 8th inning.

Then with 1 out on the bottom of the 8th inning, the listless Anaheim crowd was suddenly brought to life. What the Rally Monkey couldn’t do, David Eckstein could, as he hit an improbable line drive that just barely cleared the left field fence. And just like that the teams were tied once again, this time at 7. It remained tied after 9 innings, when at this point the Dodgers chose to hand the game over to their best reliever Clem Labine, while the Angels turned it over to Scott Schoeneweis, their last available pitcher (except for closer Percival).

What then followed was one missed scoring opportunity after the other by both teams. 4 times Brooklyn had a runner on 2nd base and couldn’t get the base hit needed to score him. Thrice during this time a Brooklyn base runner was thrown out on the bases – twice when Jackie Robinson was out trying to steal second, and once when Carl Furillo strayed a bit too far off 1st base and was called out when Jose Molina threw behind him. 3 times Anaheim had the winning run on 2nd base and couldn’t get the base hit to drive him home, including a runner on 2nd and 3rd  situation with 1 out in the bottom of the 11th inning.  It looked like nobody wanted to win this one.

In the bottom of the 14th inning, pinch hitter Shaun led off with a double. But when the Spiezio flied out and Glaus grounded out, it looked like yet another wasted opportunity for the home team. However, with Labine’s pitch count nearing 100 yet another unlikely Halos’ hero Jose Molina lined a double down the left field line to score Wooten and give Anaheim a walkoff 8-7 win that exhilarated the exhausted Edison International Field crowd.

Pee Wee Reese finished with a double and 5 singles, while Jackie Robinson reached base in all 7 of his plate appearances (2 singles and 5 walks). Garrett Anderson had 4 hits to lead the Angels hitters. Yet in the end, the victory belong to Scott Schoeneweis, who threw almost as many scoreless innings in relief as he has letters in his last name, and to backup catcher Jose Molina, who gunned down 3 Dodger base runners and knocked in the winning run. The Series now stood at 3 games to 1 with the Angels clearly sitting in the catbird seat.

Game 5 – Dodgers 5, Angels 1

Anaheim, at the top of their rotation, hoped to end the Series at home and went with Jarrod Washburn to start the game. With their backs against the wall for Game 5, Brooklyn manager Marc Weiss surprised both critics and fans, and chose 25-year old rookie Roger Craig as his starter. Both pitchers brushed aside the pressure, rose to the occasion, and matched each other goose egg for goose egg. After 7 innings the score stood 0-0 as the tension mounted with each inning played. But Washburn ran out of gas first, and the 8th inning opened with the usually reliable Ben Weber on the mound in relief. Jackie Robinson led off the inning with a double, and set the tone for what was to follow. After Snider grounded  out, Campanella walked, Furillo singled,  Gil Hodges singled, Rube Walker singled, Gilliam suicide squeezed successfully, and Hoak singled. By the time Reese grounded out to end the inning, the Dodgers had broken open the game with a 5 spot. The Angels scratched out a meaningless, unearned run in the bottom of the 9th to spoil the shutout. Craig may have been destined to lose 24 games in future season. But tonight he had given his team exactly what they needed. The Angels led the Series 3-2. But now it was all heading back east to Flatbush.

--submitted by Douglas Zaner--

KOD10 World Series: Games 1 & 2

10/17 – 10/18 – Ebbets Field

Game 1 – Angels 6, Dodgers 4

The KOD10 World Series opened up at Ebbets Field with the NL Champion 1955 Brooklyn Dodgers hosting the AL Champions 2002 Anaheim Angels. Don Newcombe and Jarrod Washburn took the mound for their respective teams. The Angels jumped out ahead, scoring first. Stringing together singles, sacrifice flies and a solo David Eckstein HR, Anaheim built a 4-0 lead after 3 and a half innings. But Roy Campanella heroically tied the game with a solo HR in the bottom of the 4th and a 3-run HR blast in the bottom of the 5th. The score remained tied until the top of the 8th  inning. With 2 outs and runners on 2nd and 3rd base, Darin Erstad claimed the spotlight as the Series’ first hero and floated a single up the middle, scoring both runners. It was made all the more bitter for the Brooklyn fans because both runs were unearned. Brendon Donnelly and Troy Percival continued the solid relief work they’ve shown all season and shut the door on the Dodgers the rest of the way to give Anaheim a 1-0 game lead in the Series. Ben Weber picked up the win in relief; Don Newcombe took the loss (something that he historically has grown used to in the Fall Classic).

Game 2 – Dodgers 4, Angels 1

Facing the prospect of losing the first 2 games of the Series at home, the Dodgers handed the ball to Carl Erskine, while the Angels went with their staff ace Kevin Appier. Both pitchers began the game firing bullets, and it was still scoreless after 3 and a half innings. Brooklyn struck first in the bottom of the 4th. With Pee Wee Reese on 2nd base and 1^st base open, the Angels chose to pitch to NL MVP candidate Duke Snider, who parked one over the RF fence onto Bedford Avenue to give dem Bums a 2-0 lead. Troy Glaus got back one of the runs in the top of the 5th with a solo shot off Erskine. But that was as close as Anaheim would get this day. A Don Hoak RBI single and an infield groundout would score 2 more for the Dodgers to make it 4-1 after 8 innings. But in the end, this one belonged to Erskine who gave up only 3 hits in 7 innings of work. Clem Labine pitched a scoreless 2 innings to earn the save. With the series now tied 1-1, the teams headed across the country for southern California.

--submitted by Douglas Zaner--

‘02 Halos win AL Flag in 5 over ‘84 Tigers

10/9-10/10 - Tiger Stadium
GAME 1 - Tigers 5, Angels 4 (14 inn)
What a way to open up the ALCS.  A 14 inning extravaganza.  Respective starters Jarrod Washburn and Jack Morris were both long gone by decision time, but it must be duly noted that both pitched their hearts out.  Morris was protecting a 2-1 lead into the top of the 7th when his fielding, not his pitching let him down.  With runners on 1st and 2nd and 1 out Morris booted Adam Kennedy's sac bunt, which allowed Troy Glaus to score the tying run all the way from second.  In typical Morris fashion the mustachioed veteran got the next two batters out easily to avoid further damage.  Neither team could break the deadlock in regulation, so the contest went to extra innings where the Angels struck first with a solo run in the top of the 11th off of reliever Doug Bair, who would pitch 4 innings in total.  Bair looked like he was going to survive a Tim Salmon lead off double, but with 2 outs Scott Spiezio lined a single to right to score pinch runner Alex Oxhoa to make it 3-2.  Anaheim needed to get 3 outs from closer Troy Percival to lock it up.  That would not happen.  Larry Herndon led off with a walk.  Percival had to face Mr. Clutch, Kirk Gibson to lead off the inning.  Gibby must have thought Troy was Dennis Eckersley, because he treated Anaheim's closer the same way he treated "the Eck" in game 1 of the 1988 World Series...he lined a hanging slider into the right field overhang to tie the game up at 3.  Just like that, one swing, boom...we're tied again.  After a scoreless 12th and 13th innings the game looked to be in one of those extra inning ruts where nobody can score.  This changed dramatically in the top of the 14th when pinch hitter Benji Gil  singled home Troy Glaus to put the Halos back up top by one run once again in extra innings.  This time it would be Scott Shields' turn to protect the lead.  Following in Percival's footsteps Shields allowed the tying run to score with 2 outs when Chet Lemon singled home Rupert Jones with the bases loaded.  Up stepped Kirk Gibson, who is un-phased by pressure.  Most batters would be anxious, but not Gibby who chose to wait Shields out.  As a result Shields walked Gibson (his 3rd of the inning) to allow Lance Parrish to score without the ball even being put into play.  Corktown was Partytown for at least one day !

GAME 2 - Angels 3, Tigers 0
Kevin Appier went 6 scoreless innings then let the pen do the rest.  Benji Molina broke a scoreless tie with a 2 run single off of Juan Berenguer in the top of the 4th.  The Halos would add an insurance run off of Aurelio Lopez thanks to a perfectly executed squeeze play by David Eckstein after Adam Kennedy led off the inning with a triple.  The Tiger offense looked rather toothless getting only 5 hits off of the 4 pitchers Anaheim used.  Atoning for his poor game 1 performance Troy Percival threw a scoreless 9th inning.  Lou Whitaker posted 2 of Detroit's 5 hits from the lead off spot, but nobody was able to bring him home.  The series now heads to Orange County tied a 1 game apiece.

10/12-10/14 - Edison Field
GAME 3 - Angels 8, Tigers 4
Detroit's Dan Petry looked to be in the driver's seat as the Tiger offense staked him to a 4-0 lead, until the home half of the 6th when Anaheim would erupt for 3 runs.  Pinch hitter Benji Gill came through with another clutch 2 RBI hit to put the Halos back in striking distance and send Petry to the showers.  If the 6th innings was unkind to the Tigers, the 7th inning was downright nasty.  This time the nastiness would come from one swing of Troy Glaus' bat.  With the bases jammed and nowhere to put Glaus Doug Bair had to pitch to him.  Glaus knew it and deposited the 2-1 offering deep into the man made waterfall in left center to turn a 1 run Tiger lead into a 3 run Angel lead.  Darin Erstad would hit a solo shot in the 8th off of Lopez to provide the final difference and put Anaheim up 2 games to 1 in the series.  Lost in the shuffle was Chet Lemon's 2 home run day, which was responsible for 3 RBI's.  Lemon had Halo starter Ramon Ortiz' number, but in the end it would not be enough

GAME 4 - Angels 9, Tigers 4
John Lackey was on the ropes as evidenced by the 2 runs he gave up to Detroit in the top of the 1st courtesy of a Lance Parrish 2 run shot.  Lackey was able to right the ship and throw 6 shutout innings after the bump in the road that he survived.  The same could not be said for his opponent, Milt Wilcox, who was under duress all game and cracked under the pressure.  Anaheim touched him for 5 run in the 2nd to evaporate Detroit's 2 run lead.  Anaheim played smart / small ball to post their 5 spot.  The bottom of the 6th would spell doom for Motown as the Halos posted 3 more runs and evicted Wilcox from the hill.  A 2 run shot by Eckstein would be the big blow.  Detroit would make it 8-4 with 2 in the 8th, but Adam Kennedy's run scoring single in the bottom of the inning bumped the lead back up to 5 an pretty much ended all hopes for a Detroit comeback.

GAME 5 - Angels 7, Tigers 1

Throughout the regular season the Tigers dominated the American League, while the Halos fought to stay above .500 for the most part.  Some might say the Halos made the post season due to the fact that no other team in their division finished with a winning record.  I would say they underachieved thanks in part to not having their manager, Douglas Zaner, for at least 1/3 of the season.  While Douglas was in the process of moving from the US to Israel a host of substitute managers who didn't know much about the Angels and their unique platoon system found different ways to botch the season.  When Douglas was at the helm the Angels seemed to run like a well oiled machine.  This well Oiled machine was now one game away from reward Zaner with his 3rd KOD AL pennant.  This task would not be easy, since his team would be facing the 8-2 Jack Morris.  Forget records and stats, Morris is a clutch performer who rises above his numbers in key situations and will's his team to victory.  The good folks in Motown were sure hoping the Morris scenario would play itself out, so the series would return to Michigan and Trumbull.  Unfortunately for those fans Morris just did not have it.  It was apparent early on when the Halos, who were down 1-0 scored 3 runs in the bottom of the first.  In fact 4 of the first 5 hitters got a  hit.  Tim Salmon cleared the bases with a 2 run double and Scott Spiezo doubled home Brad Fullmer, who tripled.  Two innings later Fulmer would strike again, this time with a 2 run homer to make it 5-1.  Solo runs in the 4th and the 6th would only make Detroit's mountain to climb that much more impossible.  Jarrod Wasburn allowing just 1 run in 9 innings would make it impossible.  Morris would give up 13 of the 14 hits the Halos would post on the day including a 4 for 5 game by Darrin Erstad..  Tim Salmon was 3 for 5 as the Halos cruised to victory and their 3rd KOD-American League Flag.